next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

[Alaninga]

My fishing buddy and I have joked about doing this but I'm thinking it might just be worth a try. During the few minutes we are at the ramp we see quite a few sights, boat owners that have very difficult times launching their boats. 90% of them don't want any help even when offered.

We are going to leave our boat at home, and are going to take just folding chairs and a cooler full of drinks, and park our selves by the largest most used boat ramps in nearby Lake Allatoona. There are 3 ramps side by side, and only one small floating dock about 12' x 16', usually not quite enough room for the 3 ramps at 'full use' times.
Should be interesting.
Here is my question: Should I bring a video camera?

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Every time i stay at the marina they have a bench by the launch ramp under a nice shade tree, Hours of enjoyment.


LK

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

The wife and I have a favorite spot where we anchor closely but outside of traffic, have dinner and enjoy the show, 2 lane ramp with prep and deprep areas, You just can't pay for comedy like that.

Once we even had a Park Ranger tie up with us for a little while, pretty cool but we had to hide the "Adult" Beverages for a half hour or so.....

 

[Alaninga]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I've felt sorry for a few that were having trouble launching/trailering. I cringe when I see a trailer backed in to where just the winch tower is the only thing above water, knowing the bow of the boat is going to ram the winch or possibly the back of the tow vehicle, or even injure the person if they stand at the winch ready to 'hook up the bow rope' and wind.
I've experienced rejection most of the time if I offer to help or even toss out a 'trailer is too deep/shallow' offering. Seems not many want any part of someone else offering a help....guess it's human nature.
I'm blessed to have had a dad [long passed] that always had a boat and always let me 'help' with it, trailering included. As soon as I got my driver's license my first chore was to learn how to back a trailer.....and it seems 'trying many times over and over' is the only way to get used to it. It is a difficult thing to do and if a boat owner does not 'boat' that often then he is slow to learn how to deal with backing a trailer.
'Helps' that were useful to me were:
1) move bottom of the steering wheel [tow vehicle] in the direction you want the trailer to go.
2) go slow
3) if you get out of whack, pull back up forward but not so far as you loose all the rearward gain you had made!
4) on average, a trailer should be backed in to where the bunks are ABOUT half way into the water. A tow vehicle driver can always pull up a bit if medium boat power does not get boat up to winch.
5) practise in an empty parking lot if you can, much better than trying to back a trailer with a half dozen anxious boaters waiting on you to get it done at the lake ramp!
6) if the trailer gets out of alignment more than just a little, don't keep backing up trying to correct it. Pull up a SHORT distance and try again.
7) get your boat ALL READY up in the ramp parking lot, NOT when right at the ramp!!!! Remove all hold downs, motor trailering bar removed, gas bulb connected and squeezed, coolers in the boat, and leave the winch CONNECTED until you get the back of the trailer into the water [how embarrassing to launch a boat on the concrete!!]


I might be missing something but it just goes to show that most experienced boaters have MENTALLY launched the boat before they ever get near the ramp.....thinking AHEAD of what all needs to be done BEFORE you get to and BLOCK the ramp.
And be CAREFUL...make sure your family/children get OUT OF THE WAY and know where you want them to be or wait on you. I've seen people back boat trailers and give ALL their attention to the trailer, NOT children or even adults that suddenly decide they need to be on the OTHER side of the tow vehicle and trailer and will actually walk between the tow vehicle and trailer without making SURE the tow vehicle driver KNOWS where they are!
OK, that's all for now : )

 

[86 century]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I have offered many times to help people with the same result.

One of the best was a fellow has the trailer backed down to the point the bow stop is nearly under water.
As the poor lady driving the boat is almost in tears from the verbal bashing she is taking as the boat turns sideways for the third time.
I very politely suggest the trailer is in to deep I get a real crappy "it will be ok".

By this time my brother has my trailer at the perfect depth right next to mister wizard the boat slides on two cranks of the winch and we are off.
All I got was a nasty look as I roll by the nice gentle man I tried to help.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I've seen the other side of the coin as well -- Folks automatically think because I have a pontoon, it's bigger/heavier/harder to load, and will take more time. They offer help, I politely tell them we've got it down to a science. Most are impressed at the speed we can dump off/retrieve the pontoon. It often starts a conversation -- but I usually end up leaving in the middle of it since we're loaded and ready to leave.

I've seen so many people try backing down the boat ramp... and take up both lanes to do it. It's so painful to watch. They end up launching the boat '****-eyed' while the truck is jack-knifed and cutting off the second lane. I try not to look too much - don't want to cause them additional stress - they're obviously having difficulty.

Last night, in the campground we stay, I had the owner come and get me. A lady pulled her camper in, but didn't know how to back it up... I asked if she wanted me to park it for her, or if she would like me to teach her how to back it up. I think because people were on both sides of her already, she wanted me to back it in. One of them 'new-fangled' Fords with the alarm when you put it in reverse (reverse camera said something was too close... they were right. .) Drove me nutz... for the minute or so I was there.

I enjoy helping, if I'm allowed. But I'm not gonna butt in and tell them what they're doing wrong if they don't want my opinion. That usually goes wrong fast.

 

[lncoop]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I've seen the other side of the coin as well -- Folks automatically think because I have a pontoon, it's bigger/heavier/harder to load, and will take more time. They offer help, I politely tell them we've got it down to a science. Most are impressed at the speed we can dump off/retrieve the pontoon. It often starts a conversation -- but I usually end up leaving in the middle of it since we're loaded and ready to leave.

I've seen so many people try backing down the boat ramp... and take up both lanes to do it. It's so painful to watch. They end up launching the boat '****-eyed' while the truck is jack-knifed and cutting off the second lane. I try not to look too much - don't want to cause them additional stress - they're obviously having difficulty.

Last night, in the campground we stay, I had the owner come and get me. A lady pulled her camper in, but didn't know how to back it up... I asked if she wanted me to park it for her, or if she would like me to teach her how to back it up. I think because people were on both sides of her already, she wanted me to back it in. One of them 'new-fangled' Fords with the alarm when you put it in reverse (reverse camera said something was too close... they were right. .) Drove me nutz... for the minute or so I was there.

I enjoy helping, if I'm allowed. But I'm not gonna butt in and tell them what they're doing wrong if they don't want my opinion. That usually goes wrong fast.

I have no scientific data to support this opinion unless one accepts personal observation as such, but it's been my experience that women are more receptive to instruction/assistance than men. As for the Ford backup beep; whether I tell the driver how to disable it before or after I'm in the water depends on how much I like the person backing the trailer for me. Just kidding. I usually forget about it until he/she says "I don't see how you can stand that noise the whole time you're backing up", at which point I say "Oh man, I'm sorry. Forgot to tell you to push the reset button to make it stop.":facepalm:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

you need to bring a video camera and post the vids. I often thought of a live web cam for video. would call it BLN (Boat Launch Network).

Pride at the ramp often leads to a domestic at the dock when things go awry.

 

[lncoop]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Pride at the ramp often leads to a domestic at the dock when things go awry.

Yep. The only thing worse is a couple in a tandem canoe when neither of them has the slightest idea of how to control it. They call 'em divorce boats.

 

[Alaninga]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I can still remember [mental video] a husband wife team launching a about at Lake Allatoona maybe 30 years ago [I'm 61]. He in the boat, her backing him into the water. She was doing ok but going slow [as she should have] he started HOLLERING instructions and waving his arms to tell her which way to turn her tow vehicle steering wheel. I noticed he was actually telling and signaling her WRONG. She did as he said, trailer went the wrong way, and he got LOUDER AND MORE ANGRY. Wanted to tell him HE was WRONG and she did EXACTLY AS HE TOLD HER.....WRONG.
Stayed out of it and felt sorry for her. Laughed to myself as I thought "watch her back that SOB back into the water a lot DEEPER than he wants!" Ha!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

My best friend is 4th cottage from the boat ramp on a 960 acre lake, a good friend owns the 2nd cottage from the ramp. so many times have we sat there on the dock watching the show. I like the guy that loads the whole family up for the first boat ride of the spring, and forgets to charge the battery before they shove off. I also like the folks with more money than brains trying to launch a 25' cruiser and wonder why the boat wont come off the trailer. (very shallow ramp and a shallow lake)

I also enjoy watching the jetflees getting taged for going WOT right from the ramp (first 200' are a clearly marked no wake zone). the warden is usually pulled up at my friends dock to watch the ramp.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I think another thing that has become rare is common courtesy, and what I mean is this, couple weeks ago my wife brings the boat to the dock to drop me off so that I can go get the truck and trailer, she has my son and two of my daughters with her, after being placed perfectly on the dock my wife perfectly backs away(God I hope she reads this I could use the brownie points) I put my shoes on and I see an older then me couple heading in to do the same thing, without thinking I line up to catch them and help the man off the boat then handed the boat off to them, They thanked me and I said my pleasure and went about my business.

But later at camp we were talking about it around the campfire, and while that was the way I was raised you just don't see it that often any more, I didn't even think about it I just did it.

The next day we were chased off the lake by weather, really quick moving thunderstorm, got to the ramp loaded my boat right as it hit us I mean sprinkles as the boat was going on the trailer but a complete downpour at the top of the ramp, I park in the de-prep lane and get out to retrieve the wife and kids and my son is missing, so I yell at my wife "WHERE IS COLE?" and she smiles and says "He is your son he is at the ramp helping others!" I was so Proud of him, but I couldn't let him have all the fun so I ran down and helped a bunch of boats get off the water quickly. My wife made a great dinner for us and it was a great way to end the day, turned out to be a fine day.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Hey Alan - Which ramp on 'Toona? I might join you and your buddy for some amusement. Or make sure I don't launch at that ramp.

 

[Maclin]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Pretty cool Lipp !

 

[sccatfish]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I have no scientific data to support this opinion unless one accepts personal observation as such, but it's been my experience that women are more receptive to instruction/assistance than men. As for the Ford backup beep; whether I tell the driver how to disable it before or after I'm in the water depends on how much I like the person backing the trailer for me. Just kidding. I usually forget about it until he/she says "I don't see how you can stand that noise the whole time you're backing up", at which point I say "Oh man, I'm sorry. Forgot to tell you to push the reset button to make it stop.":facepalm:

I'm glad to see someone say that you can disable the alarm in the Fords. I've been told you couldn't, but I figured there had to be a way. My GMC turns the alarm off by itself when towing (or even if I leave the tailgate down).

 

[lncoop]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

I'm glad to see someone say that you can disable the alarm in the Fords. I've been told you couldn't, but I figured there had to be a way. My GMC turns the alarm off by itself when towing (or even if I leave the tailgate down).

On my Expy you just push the Reset button when you're in reverse. I've found it to be useful when I'm hooking up though. The squealing is broken up until I'm close enough to drop the trailer on the tongue, then it's solid. My buddy bought an Excursion last winter and he hugged me when I showed him how to make the squealing stop LOL.

 

[Alaninga]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Hey Alan - Which ramp on 'Toona? I might join you and your buddy for some amusement. Or make sure I don't launch at that ramp.

Blockhouse in Acworth, right by I-75

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, Lake Sonoma, Ca., Observation Point on the right just before the bridge. Video Cameras are welcome but you can get a copy from any of the folks at the event just bring your own thumb drive. If it's your first time, bring doughnuts and coffee, we ran out at 9:30am just when the fun was beginning. A lawn chair works well, the wood railing gets a little tough on the rear and several people fell off due to outbursts of laughter.

DO NOT BRING YOUR BOAT!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

Blockhouse in Acworth, right by I75

Red Top is a fun one too. Tight ramps and tight parking when it's crowded along with crazy people. Don't forget Labor Day is coming. The last splash for a lot of people, most of whom haven't learned anything all summer cause they only go holidays - the worst of all times.

 

[Alaninga]

Re: next spring when ALL the boaters come out.....

First day of spring warning signs I have come to recognize [time to just go back to the house]:
1) ON the drive TO the lake, I see trailers on the side of the road with one wheel missing and up on a block or jack.
2) see a long line back at ENTRANCE of the boat ramp park
3) see a guy toting a car battery in his arms, walking towards the boat ramp (and possibly a vehicle with the hood up nearby).
4) if same guy has a pair of PLIERS sticking out of his back pocket, immediately turn around if possible and take my boat back home or to the very secluded river ramp I know about.

If you can see the boat at the ramp at water's edge, half off the trailer with the motor cover OFF, wife with hands on hips and kids running wild, you've probably gone too far and are stuck in the line of 'ain't gonna happen today'.......
...you should have taken the hint when you saw the trailer on the side of the road on the way to the lake!!!
: )